Northern Checkpoints: The Occupation ticks like a bomb that forgot to explode
Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint 5:55 a.m.
This is one of the two large checkpoints in the northern West Bank (besides the Jalame Checkpoint), enabling pedestrians, vehicles and goods to pass between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Palestinians, fortunate to have obtained work permits in Israel, either cross here, or no longer do so for the procedures and instructions appear to change according to the needs of the checkpoint operators. The checkpoint is operated by a civilian security firm that is under the charge of the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
This hour used to be top rush-hour. Lately not all Palestinians who work in Israel are allowed to cross here, and they’re desperate. Worker traffic, consequently, has considerably lessened. Who is happy about these worsening conditions? The inspectors at the terminal, perhaps? People quickly cross the metal installation, the many tracks and turnstiles (four of each) and enter the terminal, where their IDs and bags will be checked. At the opening, a slight crowding is noticed, that disperses later.
The slight silver lining – on our way to our car, people call out to us warmly, and greet us with a bi-lingual “good morning!” Some slight solace at this tiny pinpoint in the universe: many Palestinians and two Jewish women are happy to meet for a moment.
Anin Agricultural Checkpoint 6:30 a.m. (opened twice a week, in the morning and in the afternoon)
The front gate (one of three) of this checkpoint no longer locks. It is kept open. Behind the locked third – furthest – gate wait farmers from Palestinian village Anin, most of them on their way to their olive groves, that once used to be near their home and are on the other side of the moon – across the Separation Fence. Few may cross with their tractor into the territories, and today they are three. The Military Policemen arrive late and quickly let about 15 people through. According to one of the Palestinians there are 140 farmer’s permits for the villagers who number about 4000… Even this is not evident by the small number who do cross here every morning since the olive harvest. Perhaps, says that person, people prefer to go to Barta’a Checkpoint further along, and then return through it at a later hour than Anin.
If you can – punish them! An Anin villager who was registered at the Anin Checkpoint in the morning but returned home through the Barta’a Checkpoint will lose his permit the next time he comes to Anin Checkpoint.
Tayibe-Roumana Agricultural Checkpoint (opened twice a week, in the morning and in the afternoon)
The same Military Policemen from Anin Checkpoint operate this one as well, situated at the foothills of Umm al Fahm, one of the largest Arab urban communities in Israel. Here land owners from Tayibe and Roumana villages (in Palestine) who hold permits cross over, and some of them proceed to their lands, behind the Separation Fence.
This morning the crossing is swift, the weather is perfect, and if the Palestinians travelling across feel desperation and frustration these are hidden behind a smile and a good morning greeting. Good morning, fine morning, a morning of flowers…
'Anin checkpoint (214)
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'Anin checkpoint (214)
'Anin checkpoint is located on the Separation Fence east of the Israeli community Mei Ami and close to the village of Anin in the West Bank. It is opened twice a week, morning and afternoon, on days with shorter light time, for Anin farmers whose olive groves have been separated from the village by the fence it became difficult to cultivate their land. Transit permits are only issued to those who can produce ownership documents for their caged-in land, and sometimes only to the head of the family or his widow, eldest son, and children. Sometimes the inheritors lose their right to tend to the family’s land. The permits are eked out and are re-issued only with difficulty. 55-year-old persons may cross the checkpoint (into Israel) without special permits. During the olive harvest season (about one month around October) the checkpoint is open daily and more transit permits are issued. Names of persons eligible to cross are held in the soldiers’ computers. In July 2007, a sweeping instruction was issued, stating that whoever does not return to the village through this checkpoint in the afternoon will be stripped of his transit permit when he shows up there next time. Since 2019, the checkpoint has not been allways locked with the seam-line zone gate (1 of 3 gates), and the fence around it has been broken in several sites.
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Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint
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This checkpoint is located on the Separation Fence route, east of the Palestinian town of East Barta’a. The latter is the largest Palestinian community inside the seam-line zone (Barta’a Enclave) in the northern West Bank. Western Barta’a, inside Israel, is adjacent to it. The Checkpoint is open all week from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Since mid-May 2007, the checkpoint has been managed by a civilian security company subordinate to the Ministry of Defense. People permitted to cross through this checkpoint into and from the West Bank are residents of Palestinian communities inside the Barta’a Enclave as well as West Bank Palestinian residents holding transit permit. Jewish settlers from Hermesh and Mevo Dotan cross here without inspection. A large, modern terminal is active here with 8 windows for document inspection and biometric tests (eyes and fingerprints). Usually only one or two of the 8 windows are in operation. Goods, up to medium commercial size, may pass here from the West Bank into the Barta’a Enclave. A permanent registered group of drives who have been approved by the may pass with farm produce. When the administration of the checkpoint was turned over to a civilian security firm, the Ya’abad-Mevo Dotan Junction became a permanent checkpoint. . It is manned by soldiers who sit in the watchtower and come down at random to inspect vehicles and passengers (February 2020).
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Tayba-Rummana
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Tayba-Rummana is an agricultural checkpoint. It is located in the separation fence in front of the eastern slopes of the Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm. The Palestinian villages next to the checkpoint are Khirbet Tayba and Rummana. Dozens of dunams of olive groves were removed from their owners, the residents of these villages on the western side of the separation fence. The Palestinian villages next to the checkpoint are Khirbet Tayba and Rumna. Dozens of olives dunams were removed from these villages' residents and swallowed up in a narrow strip of space, on the western side of the separation fence. The checkpoint allows the plantation owners who have permits to pass. Twice a week, the checkpoint opens for fifteen minutes in the morning and evening. During the harvest season, it opens every day for fifteen minutes in the morning (around 0630) and fifteen minutes in the afternoon (around 1530). (February 2020).
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